April 2026

On March 27, AERA and the Society for Research on Educational Effectiveness (SREE) filed a motion for summary judgment in their legal challenge to cuts at the Institute of Education Sciences (IES), asking a federal court to reverse the actions and require the agency to carry out its congressionally mandated role in leading and funding education research and statistics.

The motion seeks to overturn the cancellation of contracts tied to data collection, research studies, evaluations, peer review, and dissemination, as well as the termination of roughly 90 percent of IES staff. It also calls for a final ruling that the actions were unlawful and that IES must resume its core functions.

The filing follows months of fact-finding by AERA and SREE’s legal team, including testimony from government officials and a review of internal documents from the U.S. Department of Education. The evidence shows the actions lacked sufficient consideration and violated legal requirements governing the agency.

“We believe that these records clearly demonstrate that the actions to eviscerate the nation’s premier agency supporting education research, statistics, evaluations, and evidence-based resources were both unconsidered and unlawful,” said AERA Executive Director Tabbye Chavous.

The motion is the latest development in a legal effort that began last year. On April 14, 2025, AERA and SREE filed a lawsuit against the Department of Education, for the unlawful dismantling of IES and harm to researchers, educators, policymakers, and students who rely on federally supported education research.

The groups followed with a request on April 30, 2025, for a preliminary injunction to halt further changes to IES while the case proceeds.

The case centers on restoring the capacity of IES, which plays a central role in producing data and evidence used across the education sector. AERA will continue to provide updates as the case moves forward.